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Posted by mikev (Member # 4864) on :
 
Can anyone provide info about getting a rental car after arriving in Charleston on a trip from Baltimore?

mike
 
Posted by Henry Kisor (Member # 4776) on :
 
Just Google "rental cars Charleston" and you're good to go.
 
Posted by notelvis (Member # 3071) on :
 
If you're arriving on the Palmetto (train 89) your best bet would probably be a cab to the airport and getting a rental car there since that train gets in 'after normal business hours'.

You might check with the Enterprise Office at the Charleston Airport and see if they would pick you up at the Amtrak station.

Another possibility - you might want to book a hotel out by the interstate (and close to the Amtrak station) that will pick you up at the train station for your first night and arrange to pick up a rental car (or be picked up at the hotel) first thing the next morning.

Bottom line - in most places getting a rental car is tricky (and sometimes costly) coming in on a train that arrives after 5pm.
 
Posted by Gilbert B Norman (Member # 1541) on :
 
Good advice from Mr. Presley--

Renting autos at an Amtrak station has always been "problematic" as there simply isn't the volume an auto rental outlet expects to have in order for the facility to "pay for itself". In view of that the only on premises outlet (Hertz) that is staffed and with vehicles ready to go is at Orlando, it would be hard to expect that any other vacation destination would have such.

There is many a hotel of any brand with the proximity of KCHS that you could access by taxicab from CHS; From there, I would hope that any hotel would have a courtesy van to the airport,. However, be prepared to take a taxicab form KCHS to the Amtrak station for your return,
 
Posted by Vincent206 (Member # 15447) on :
 
It doesn't look like Charleston is going to get its intermodal transportation problems solved anytime soon.

quote:
The transportation hub would put a fancy new face on mass transit in this area. A faded bus station on Dorchester Road serves Greyhound and Southeastern Stages. The Amtrak station reminds Summey of a scene out of Bosnia, he said.

 
Posted by palmland (Member # 4344) on :
 
Interesting that they are meeting with LaHood, thought he had left the administration. Let's hope they can reach some deal as a new station is certainly needed.

Since downtown Charleston is at the end of a peninsula, the new location won't help those wishing to detrain close to the historic area, but it certainly is in a better location.Good access to local transportation, as well as the interstate, will be a big help. The design I saw a couple years ago looked good - much better than an Amshack. While the current station is a classic design, it's long past time for a new one.

By the way, the forum hasn't had much activity recently. Everyone go on vacation?
 
Posted by notelvis (Member # 3071) on :
 
Busy time at work and some unexpected things at home in recent weeks have cut into my recreational internet time. Nothing life or death......just a worrisome patch.

Hopefully there will be more of me soon.
 


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